An Irishman living in the Chinese city at the centre of the deadly virus outbreak on Thursday described it as “almost like a ghost town”.
Ben Kavanagh is working as a teacher in Wuhan, the capital of central China’s Hubei province.
There has been 571 cases of the and 17 deaths so far in Wuhan - with residents advised not to travel.
The city at the centre of the contagious infection, which has been linked to a seafood market, has a population of 11 million people.
“You are allowed out, but there are so many rumours and people are worried, it’s better not to,” Mr Kavanagh said.
“It’s almost like a ghost town.”
Mr Kavanagh revealed the latest advice is for people to wear eye protection as it is thought the virus can spread through contact with eyes.
The majority of people in China are already wearing masks to try to evade the deadly infection.
The Co Kildare man told RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland: “I have enough water for a few more days, but I will probably have to head out to the shops for food.”
The virus causes respiratory symptoms and many supermarket shelves were bare on Thursday as residents hoard supplies and isolated themselves.
There are only a limited number of pedestrians on the streets or cars on the city’s roads as families have scrapped plans to get together.
Mr Kavanagh said because of the Chinese New Year he has a break from school, but he has not left his apartment for “two to three days”.
The professional insisted when he does venture out he wears swimming goggles over his eyes and he covers his mouth with a surgical mask.
Wuhan has been isolated from the rest of the country in a desperate attempt to contain the deadly virus.
The Chinese authorities have blocked all transport links for outgoing passengers and there is fears the disease could spread worldwide.
Buses and the subway system have been suspended, while the airport and train stations have also been closed.
Mr Kavanagh said it is the worst possible time for the outbreak with millions of Chinese people travelling for the new year festivities.
A usually bustling dual carriageway close to his home is now extremely quiet, while the cost of food has rocketed.
He added that he has heard the price of some food items, such as celery, “has tripled because of the shortages”.
Mr Kavanagh said, while he is not too anxious, the spread of the Coronavirus virus “does play on the mind a bit”.
“I have no idea what to expect,” he said.
The expat added that despite the serious Coronavirus strain it was “50/50” whether he would prefer to be at home listening to general election coverage.
The US confirmed its first victim on Wednesday as a man in his 30s from Washington State who fell ill last weekend after travelling to his hometown in China.
When asked to compare the deadliness of coronavirus to SARS, the head of China’s Disease Control Centre said they are still learning about the new virus, which is “adapting and mutating."
